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Key Organizations

Asheville, North Carolina

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• Government
• The City of Asheville page to the official government website 
• Non-Profit - Service Providing
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• Non-Profit - Advocacy/Membership/Network
• WNC Social Justice Advocacy Group - WNC Social Justice Advocacy Group offers a comprehensive list of resources and contacts in the WNC area focused on social justice, systems advocacy, and public policy.
• Foundation
• The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina - The Community Foundation of WNC is a nonprofit organization that works with individuals, families and corporations to create and manage charitable funds and make grants to nonprofits or public agencies in the region.
• Other
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Arts, Culture and Media

• Government
• The City of Asheville Arts and Events page 
• Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce page to Asheville's Chamber of Commerce. 
• Non-Profit - Service Providing
• The Asheville Arts Council builds and supports community through advocacy, public art, professional development and business services.  
• Black Mountain College Museum and Arts Center preserves and continues the legacy of educational and artistic innovation of Black Mountain College through collection, conservation, and educational activities including exhibitions, publications, and public programs.
• The Southern Highland Craft Guild fosters opportunities for makers to build, market, and maintain their creative livelihood through continuing education, retail outlets, and mentoring. They invest in helping members achieve their goals and providing them with the resources to refine and sell their craft. 
• Non-Profit - Advocacy/Membership/Network 
• River Arts District visit the working studios and galleries of hundreds of artists– painting, pottery, jewelry, glass, metal, wood and much more.
• The Asheville Art Museum wants to engage, enlighten, and inspire individuals and enrich community through dynamic experiences in American art of the 20th and 21st centuries.
• Center for Craft advances the understanding of craft by encouraging and supporting research, critical dialogue, and professional development in the United States.
• The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area wants to help an appreciation for the living traditions that honor past generations and encourage new generations to explore music, craft, food, natural wonders and native wisdom that all have their home in the Blue Ridge mountains of Western North Carolina.
• Handmade in America a page out of our history takes us to the region of Western North Carolina.
• Foundation
• YMI Cultural Center elevates Black communities through cultural, economic and leadership development activities. 
• Other
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Children, Youth and Family

• Government
• Asheville Health and Human Services page to broad services in Asheville for families.
• Non-Profit - Service Providing
• United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County mobilize and support a robust network of people, partners, and resources to collectively fight the root causes and consequences of poverty. 
• Children First/Communities in Schools offers their Success Equation focusing on “inspiring and sustaining a local movement to reduce the incidence of poverty and its impact on children in Buncombe County through education, collaboration, and public policy. Their vision is “a community where all children can thrive.” 
• YMCA of Western North Carolina is committed to strengthening the foundations of community through programming that supports youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
• Children's Home Society of North Carolina provides families with the support and resources they need to be a forever family, with services ranging from adoption and foster care to parent education and teen pregnancy prevention to post adoption support for families. 
• Buncombe Partnership for Children aims to strengthen the capacity of educators, families,  and the community to build a strong foundation for children's learning and development beginning at birth. 
• Girls on the Run of Western North Carolina inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.
• Elida mission is helping children succeed.
• Mountain Child Advocacy Center is setting the standard for the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect.
• Non-Profit - Advocacy/Membership/Network

• Just Economics works to educate, advocate, and organize for a just and sustainable local economy that works for all in Western North Carolina. Their focus on living wage, affordable housing and better transit.

• Buncombe Partnership for Children partners with local organizations to provide programs that improve the quality of early childhood education; increase access to affordable, high quality early care and education; expand early literacy opportunities; and provide family support.

• WNC Early Childhood Coalition is a partnership that includes Children First/Communities in Schools, Buncombe Partnership for Children, YWCA, Pisgah Legal, Verner, Child and Family Resource Center (Henderson Co), and Southwestern Child Development Commission (based in Sylva and serving western counties).

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• Foundation
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• Other
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Citizenship and Government

• Government
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• Non-Profit - Service Providing
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• Non-Profit - Advocacy/Membership/Network

• Interfaith Initiative for Social Justice was started in 2017 to promote social justice among faith communities in WNC. A twice a month e-newsletter provides ways for people to learn and take action on a variety of social justice issues. 

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• Foundation
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• Other
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Economy and Jobs

• Government
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• Non-Profit - Service Providing
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• Non-Profit - Advocacy/Membership/Network
• Just Economics- Just Economic works to educate, advocate, and organize for a just and sustainable local economy that works for all in Western North Carolina Their 3 areas of work are Living Wage certification, policy advocacy, and grassroots leadership development.
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• Foundation
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• Other
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Education

• Government
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• Non-Profit - Service Providing
• United Way Asheville primary goal as an organization is to reduce the impact that poverty has on the lives of students, families and communities here in Asheville and Buncombe County.
• Non-Profit - Advocacy/Membership/Network
• The Asheville City Schools Foundation Ensuring equal opportunities and access to high-quality education is central to the mission of ACSF. They invite students, families, teachers, and community leaders to join them as equity advocates. 
• Foundation
• The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina inspires philanthropy and mobilize resources to enrich lives and communities in Western North Carolina.
• Asheville City Schools Foundation mission is to implement bold strategies, fund big ideas, and engage the community to increase excellence with equity for all children in our schools.  
• Other
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Environment and Natural Resources

• Government
• Sustainability Advisory Committee on Energy and Environment responsible for developing and recommending policy to support topics such as sustainable energy, waste reduction, sustainable economic development and land use planning.  
• Non-Profit - Service Providing 

• MountainTrue mission is to champion resilient forests, clean waters and healthy communities in our region. Engages in policy advocacy at all levels of government, local project advocacy, and on-the-ground environmental restoration projects. 

• Asheville Greenworks 

• Non-Profit - Advocacy/Membership/Network 

• The Sierra Club – WNC Group covers Buncombe and counties west except for Henderson, Polk and Transylvania. As the nation’s oldest, largest, grassroots environmental organization, they work to protect our environment at the local, state, and national level.  

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• Foundation
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• Other
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Health and Wellness

• Government
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• Non-Profit - Service Providing

• MANNA Food Bank a private service organization that links the food industry with over 200 partner agencies in 16 counties of WNC. Their mission is to involve, educate, and unite people in the work of ending hunger in Western North Carolina.  

• Green Opportunities mission is to train, support, and connect people from marginalized communities to sustainable employment pathways. 

• Bounty and Soul connecting people to food, education, and each other. 
• Loving Food Resources is a food pantry that provides food, health, and personal care items to people in 18 counties of WNC who are living with HIV/AIDS or who are in home hospice care with any diagnosis.
• Our VOICE is a crisis intervention and prevention agency which serves victims of sexual violence, age 13 through adult, in Buncombe County.
• Western North Carolina Aids Project brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.
• Non-Profit - Advocacy/Membership/Network
• NAMI Western North Carolina provide support to family members and peers and serve as a center for the collection and dissemination of information about mental illness. 
• Foundation
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• Other
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Housing and Community Development

• Government
• Affordable Housing Advisory Committee this Committee works with City leadership and staff to implement the 2008 Affordable Housing Plan. Their focus includes advising City leadership on affordable housing policy issues, developing concrete action steps to implement the 2008 Affordable Housing Plan, updating the Plan, and prioritizing affordable housing projects that the City should invest in. 
• Non-Profit - Service Providing
• Homeward Bound WNC mission is working with others to end the cycle of homelessness. 
• Room-in-the-Inn shelter to home program for women experiencing homelessness in Asheville.
• Beloved creates innovative solutions to some of the toughest challenges we face as a community. 
• Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.
• Non-Profit - Advocacy/Membership/Network
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• Foundation
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• Other
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International Issues

• Government
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• Non-Profit - Service Providing
• Pisgah Legal Services are legal advocates for a host of social justice issues.  In this arena, they are mostly doing individual advocacy to assist and represent the undocumented. 
• Non-Profit - Advocacy/Membership/Network
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• Foundation
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• Other
•  WNC Sanctuary Movement is a Facebook page committed to educating people about the law, events and actions they can take to support our immigrant neighbors. 

Justice, Crime and Public Safety

• Government
• Buncombe County Resource Center increase public safety by reducing individual criminal justice involvement through addressing issues directly related to an individual's likelihood to reoffend and commit another crime.
• Non-Profit - Service Providing
• Family Justice Center a safe place where victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse can come for help.
• Non-Profit - Advocacy/Membership/Network
• State of Black Asheville the key areas challenging the criminal justice system and legal establishments across the country are the same ones which are presently challenging the law enforcement and criminal justice systems in Asheville.
• Foundation
• Safety and Justice Foundation key strategies that focus on the front-end of the local justice system include deflection at arrest and booking, diverting individuals to behavioral health and substance abuse treatment, enhancing pretrial services, and increasing efficiencies in case processing.
• Other
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Poverty

• Government
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• Non-Profit - Service Providing

• OnTrack Financial Education & Counseling helps people achieve their money and housing goals through financial education, counseling, and support so that they can overcome crisis, afford their basic needs, improve their money management skills, and make financial choices rooted in their values. 

• Open Doors Asheville connects local children living in multi-generational poverty with an active, individualized network of support and opportunities for education and enrichment. 
• Non-Profit - Advocacy/Membership/Network
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• Foundation
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• Other
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